Flow Data dashlet

To add a Flow Data dashlet to a custom dashboard

To configure the Flow Data chart

To filter on a specific item or specific breakdown

The Flow Data dashlet displays flow data in a chart for the selected View, Subview, device, VM platform or port. It displays a chart of flow data of the chosen breakdown (by topN), and below that a table detailing the breakdown in further detail.

Depending on your screen resolution, there will also be a navigation bar showing a timeframe that can be adjusted to determine what is displayed on the chart above.

The Flow Data dashlet is only applicable to Views or Subviews with a device or devices enabled for flow, devices that have been enabled for flow, and ports from which flow is being collected. It is not applicable to any other data source (e.g. services).

To add a Flow Data dashlet to a custom dashboard:

1. When adding a dashlet to a new custom dashboard or editing an existing custom dashboard, follow the instructions for adding a dashlet, select Flow Data in the Select Dashlet Type, and click Next.
2. The Create Dashlet form will slide in on the right. 

Dashlet Settings

1. Enter a name for your dashlet in the Name field.
2. You can then choose the source of the data to be displayed in the dashlet.
   
   
   The Flow Data dashlet can only display data where the source is a View/Subview with a device or devices enabled for flow, a device enabled for flow, or a port from which flow is being collected.
   
   
   • If you want this dashlet to source its data from the context of its parent dashboard, select Dashboard. You can see the context of the parent dashboard in the Dashboard Context field at the top of the form.
   • If you want this dashlet to source its data from another dashlet in this current dashboard, select Dashlet.
   • If you want this dashlet to source its data from a specific View/Subview, device or port on your network, select Fixed Object. You can then click Browse to an object to search for the View/Subview, device or port in Explorer, or drag into the box your desired View/Subview, device or port in from another browser window.

Change Breakdown

1. Specify the type of flow information you want to see in the chart in the Breakdown field. If the source IP address of the device cannot be matched to the inventory object, then Entuity displays the IP address. Similarly, if Entuity cannot match the ifIndex to the interface in the inventory, ENA will then display ifIndex N. If a user does not have access to an interface entry, it will be masked (###) (non-inventory interfaces are not masked). If a user has access to the interface but not the device, then the device name is not displayed but a drilldown is possible. The available breakdowns of flow information are as follows:
   • Top Conversations - graphs the topN applications on the selected flow collector, measured in bps.
   • Top Interfaces - the topN interfaces on the selected flow collector, measured as inbound or outbound traffic in bits per second (bps).
   • Top Applications - the topN applications on the selected flow collector, measured in bps. The table below the chart lists the applications. If there is an unknown application in the list, Administrators can update the mapping through the Application Port Mappings page. Administrators can alos use flow-applications-template.txt, and upload these changes to the Entuity database using flowCollector.bat. When you want to view which ports are sending and receiving flow data without the overlay of application mapping, you can create a chart using the Ports category.
   • Top Ports - the topN UDP/TCP ports sending and receiving flow data. If you want to view port data mapped against applications, you can create a chart using the Applications category.
   • Top Hosts
   • Top Hosts - the top combined inbound and outbound host traffic.
   • Top Listeners - the topN listening hosts on the interface, measured as inbound traffic in bps.
   • Top Talkers - the topN talking hosts on the interface, measured as outbound traffic in bps.
   • Top Protocols - the topN Protocols on the selected flow collector, measured in bps.
   • Top QOS Classes - the topN QOS Classes on the selected flow collector, measured in bps.
   • Top DSCP Classes - the topN DSCP Classes on the selected flow collector, measured in bps.
   • Top IP Precedence Classes - the topN IP Precedence Classes on the selected flow collector, measured in bps.
   • Top Conversations (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Applications (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Ports (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Hosts (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Listeners (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Talkers (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Protocols (inside VXLAN)

Change Date Range

1. Specify whether to Use Dashboard Timeframe.  If switched off, you can specify a custom timeframe of included events in the Opened Timeframe field below.

Change TopN

1. Specify whether to use the Dashboard TopN value for the dashlet. If not selected, specify the TopN value. Please see this article for further help and information on setting dashboard TopN values.

Change Chart Mode

1. Specify the type of chart you would like the data to be displayed on in the Chart Mode dropdown field, choosing from one of the following:
   • Area
   • Area (Stacked)
   • Line
   • Pie
   • Bar
   • Spline
   • Area Spline
   • Area Spline (Stacked)
   • None

Manage Breakdowns

1. Click the Manage Breakdowns field to open the Manage Breakdowns form, where you can specify metrics to display in the chart.
   
   
   
   Click + to select your desired metrics and click Done to save your changes, otherwise click Cancel. 
   
   
   
   
   The available metrics are as follows:
   • Interface
   • Interface In
   • Interface Out
   • Application
   • Source
   • Destination
   • Protocol
   • Host
   • Port
   • Port In
   • Port Out
   • QoS Class
   • IP Precedence
   • DSCP
   • Ingress/Egress
   • Application (Inside VXLAN)
   • Host (Inside VXLAN)
   • Source (Inside VXLAN)
   • Destination (Inside VXLAN)
   • Protocol (Inside VXLAN)
   • Port (Inside VXLAN)
   • VXLAN ID

Advanced Settings

1. Click the Advanced Settings field to open the Advanced Settings form.
   1. Choose whether you want to hide the title of the dashlet in the Hide Title Bar field. If selected, the dashlet's Overflow Menu will also be hidden, but in the Promote Menu Options field you can then choose if you want to display the options in the dashlet's Overflow Menu in the overall dashboard's Overflow Menu.
   2. Choose whether you want the dashlet to automatically refresh in the Auto Refresh field.
   3. Click Done in the top right of the form to save and return to the Create Dashlet form, otherwise click Cancel.

Click Done in the top right of the form to save the dashlet and its settings, otherwise click Cancel.

To configure the Flow Data chart:

Note, when on the Flow dashboard, the device selected in the Flow List dashlet will then populate the Flow Data dashlet:

1. Navigate to the Flow Data dashlet that you want to configure.
2. Click Configure Chart in the top right of the dashlet or via the dashlet Overflow Menu.
3. This will open the Configure Chart form on the right.
4. Select the type of flow information you want to see in the chart in the Breakdown dropdown field. The available breakdowns of flow information are as follows:
   • Top Conversations
   • Top Interfaces - the topN interfaces on the selected flow collector, measured as inbound or outbound traffic in bits per second (bps).
   • Top Applications - the topN applications on the selected flow collector, measured in bps.
   • Top Ports - the topN UDP/TCP ports sending and receiving flow data.
   • Top Listeners - the topN listening hosts on the interface, measured as inbound traffic in bps.
   • Top Talkers - the topN talking hosts on the interface, measured as outbound traffic in bps.
   • Top Protocols - the topN Protocols on the selected flow collector, measured in bps.
   • Top QOS Classes - the topN QOS Classes on the selected flow collector, measured in bps.
   • Top DSCP Classes - the topN DSCP Classes on the selected flow collector, measured in bps.
   • Top IP Precedence Classes - the topN IP Precedence Classes on the selected flow collector, measured in bps.
   • Top Conversations (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Applications (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Ports (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Hosts (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Listeners (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Talkers (inside VXLAN)
   • Top Protocols (inside VXLAN)
5. Specify the type of chart that you would like the data to be displayed on in the Chart Mode dropdown field. The available chart modes are as follows:
   • Area
   • Area (Stacked)
   • Line
   • Pie
   • Bar
   • Spline
   • Area Spline
   • Area Spline (Stacked)
   • None
6. Click the Manage Breakdowns field to open a new form, where you can specify metrics to display in the chart. Select your desired metrics and click Done to save your changes, otherwise click Cancel. The available metrics are as follows:
   • Interface
   • Interface In
   • Interface Out
   • Application
   • Source
   • Destination
   • Protocol
   • Host
   • Port
   • Port In
   • Port Out
   • QoS Class
   • IP Precedence
   • DSCP
   • Ingress/Egress
   • Application (Inside VXLAN)
   • Host (Inside VXLAN)
   • Source (Inside VXLAN)
   • Destination (Inside VXLAN)
   • Protocol (Inside VXLAN)
   • Port (Inside VXLAN)
   • VXLAN ID
7. Click Save to save your changes, otherwise click Cancel.
8. Specify the TopN value in the TopN filter at the top of the dashlet:
   
   

To filter on a specific item or specific breakdown:

If you want the Flow Data dashlet to display data for a specific item or breakdown, e.g. a specific port, you can do so from the dashlet's Overflow Menu:

1. Navigate to the Flow Data dashlet that you want to edit. In the dashlet's Overflow Menu, click Filter on Another Item.
2. This will open the Filter On Another Item form on the right. In the Filter dropdown field, select one of the breakdowns available for this dashlet:
   • Interface
   • Interface In
   • Interface Out
   • Application
   • Source
   • Destination
   • Protocol
   • Host
   • Port
   • Port In
   • Port Out
   • QoS Class
   • IP Precedence
   • DSCP
   • Ingress/Egress
   • Application (Inside VXLAN)
   • Host (Inside VXLAN)
   • Source (Inside VXLAN)
   • Destination (Inside VXLAN)
   • Protocol (Inside VXLAN)
   • Port (Inside VXLAN)
   • VXLAN ID.
3. Once you have selected a breakdown, the form will update with the specific items available for that selected breakdown. For example, if you select Port Out, you will then be able to specify the port number in the Port field below. Or, if you select Ingress/Egress, you will be able to select N/A, Ingress or Egress in the fields below.
4. Click Save in the top right to save your selections and close the form. The dashlet will then be updated and display data according to the selections you have made. Otherwise click Cancel.